Mumbai, March 8 (IANS) Superstar Shah Rukh Khan feels that despite working twice as hard as men, women in Bollywood don't get the kind of recognition that they deserve.

"They work harder, they look better, they make the film stick together and I honestly think sometimes, they do not get the due credit that they deserve," the 47-year-old said in an interview.

"I truly believe that women are the backbone, at least in my field of work. I am inspired by all of them," he added.

On the occasion of the International Women's Day TATA Tea's "Jaago Re" campaign has started a new initiative - Women First - with Shah Rukh who has has taken a pledge that henceforth in all his films, the lead actress' name would appear before his in the credits.

He is starting this with "Chennai Express", in which he has teamed up with Deepika Padukone, whose name will appear before his in the credits.

Shah Rukh admits he loves to work with women directors and if the industry has more of them, he would only work with them.

In the beginning of his career, he had teamed up with Hema Malini for her directorial debut "Dil Aashna Hai" and he was also the main lead in choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan's first film "Main Hoon Na" as well as her second movie "Om Shanti Om".

"I would love to have more women directors directing me. I personally feel bad when sometime male directors waste a lot of time to make the heroine of the film look good. I think they have a more tender spot for women, especially while shooting for songs," he said.

"I would really really like to work more with women directors. If we had more women directors, I would work only with women directors," he added.

Currently, Shah Rukh is busy shooting for "Chennai Express", which is being directed by Rohit Shetty.